Tripod.



L. G. & E. G. ROEHLK.

TRIPOD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 190B.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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TRIPOD. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1908. 91 1,544. Patented Feb. 2, 1909. l

5 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. J6 lira. .79 J7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS G. ROEHLK AND ERNST G. ROEHLK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TRIPOD.

Application filed March 24, 1908.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS C. ROEHLK and ERNST C. ROEHLK, citizens of the United States, and residents of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Tripods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tripods, and consists in the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts as will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of our invention is to construct a tripod having the upper portion provided with a shelf and a clamping device whereby the shelf and legs are rigidly clamped together to make an absolutely solid and rigid connectlon.

Figure 1 is a side view of our invention with parts broken away, showing the construction. Fig. 2 is a rear view of our invention in a folded position. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the clamping device in its relative position with the several parts. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same.

In the construction of our invention, we provide a tripod consisting of the usual telescopic legs 5 and 6, the leg 5 forming the central support and is constructed perpendicular. The legs 6 have their upper portion formed at anangle as indicated by the numeral 7, and are provided with tapered elongated openings 8 through which the clamping bolt 9 is passed and the purposes of the tapered elongated openings are to permit the legs 6 to be folded as shown in The one end of the clamping bolt 9 is provided with a head 10, the opposite end being screw threaded and on the same is placed the thumb-nut 11. The head 10 and the collar of the thumb-nut 11 are of such size and construction as to entirely obstruct from View the elongated openings 8, and also to firmly contact with the outer surface for clampin the legs in a rigid position when extends as shown in Fig. 3.

On the top of the legs is him edly mounted a table 12 provided on its un er side with a pair of rectangular brackets 13 which brack ets terminate in ears 14, and each of said ears is provided with elongated slots 15 of sufiicient width to permit the clamping bolt Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Serial No. 423,072.

9 to pass therethrough. The purpose of the slotted ears is to permit the table to be set at any required angle and when so set the same is rigidly clamped between the legs by means of the clamping screw.

When the tripod is folded as shown 1n Fig. 2, the table is permitted by means of the elongated slots, to fold flatly against the legs so that the folded tripod can be readily and easily conveyed. The table is also providcd with a central elongated slot 16 provided on its under surface with a slotted 1netallic strip 17 in which is retained and guided a screw 18 by which the camera is retained in position 11 on the table. The said screw is prevented rom becoming detached from the slot by means of the collar 19 and the head 20 and to the head is hinged an ear 21 by which the screw 18 is operated. The purpose of the hinged ear is to permit the same to fold against the under surface of the table when the table and tripod are in a folded position.

On one side and the front end of the table is located a spirit level 22 by which the operator can ascertain the level of the table.

The essential feature of our invention is the manner of securely clamping the table and legs to form a rigid tripod, so that when the same is set it cannot be placed out of position when handling the same without operating the clamping screw. A tripod of this construction will permit the operator to re ulate the table so as to set the camera to ta re a picture vertically, horizontally or at any angle.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim is:

In a tripod, the combination with the center supporting leg 5 and outer legs 6 having their upper portions 7 disposed at an angle to their lower portions and provided with elon ated tapered openings 8; of the clamping olt 9 having a head 10, its opposite end being screw threaded; the thumb nut 11 carried by the bolt 9; the table 12 provided with the longitudinally disposed slot 16; rectangular brackets 13 integral therewith and formed at right angles thereto and having the downwardly projecting ears 14 provided with elongated slots 15; the slotted metallic strip 17 carried by the table 12; the screw 18 adjustably mounted within the slotted strip 17 and provided with the collar 19 and head 20; the ear 21 secured to the head 20 and movably mounted therein; and the oppositely disposed spiritlevels 22 carried by the table 12, substan- 5 tially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification, in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LOUIS C. ROEI-ILK. ERNST O. ROEHLK. Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIcKs, WALTER C. STEIN. 

